verbthird conjugation
cognōscō
cognōscō (present infinitive cognōscere, perfect active cognōvī, supine cognitum)
Classical[kɔŋˈnoːs.koː]Ecclesiastical[koɲˈɲɔs.ko]
№ 339 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- to learn, to get to know
ab (or ex) aliqua cognoscere
to learn from someoneEodem die ab exploratoribus certior factus hostes sub monte consedisse milia passuum ab ipsius castris octo, qualis esset natura montis et qualis in circuitu ascensus qui cognoscerent misit.
Having been informed by explorers that the enemy had sat down at the feet of a mount about eight thousand paces away from his camp, he [Julius Caesar] sent men to know what the mount was like and what was its ascent.c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico 1.21 - to be acquainted (with someone), recognize, apprehend
[Giddenis] "Cognoscin Giddenenem ancillam tuam?". [Hanno] Novi.
"Do you know Giddenes, your servant maid?" "I know her".c. 194 BCE, Plautus, Poenulus 5.3.11–12 - to know, perceive, understand
Cyrenenses tardius iere. Id socordiane an casu adciderit, parum cognovi.
The Cyrenians went late. I know little about whether this event of laziness truly happened.86 BCE – c. 35 BCE, Gaius Sallustius Crispus, Jugurtha 79De consulum ficto timore cognoveram; Sicca enim φιλοστόργως ille quidem sed tumultuosius ad me etiam illam suspicionem pertulit.
I knew about the consuls' imagined fear; our beloved man Sicca told me of course, even if rather disturbed, about that speculation too.106 BCE – 43 BCE, Cicero, Ad Atticum 15.17 - euphemisticto have had sex with, have ever slept with, (biblical) to know
Turpiter illa virum cognovit adultera virgo;
Shamelessly, she lay with a man as an adulterous virgin, (but) a chaste wedding torch gave me to you, and you to me.43 BCE – c. 17 CE, Ovidius, Heroides 6.133–4Adam vero cognovit Havam uxorem suam, quae concepit et peperit Cain
Adam knew his wife Eve, who conceived and gave birth to Cainc. 347 CE – 420 CE, Hieronymus, Vulgate Genesis.4.1
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
scīre incipiō; quod cognōvī, sciō.cognōscō -ere cognōvī — in Mille Verba, Animus et Adfectūs
intellegō, nōscōcognōscō -ere — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 9
gets to know
cognōscit — in Seneca, ch. VIII
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Intelligere · Sentire · Cognoscere
Intelligere denotes a rational discernment, by means of reflection and combination; sentire, a natural discernment, by means of the feelings, immediate images, or perceptions, whether of the senses or of the mind; lastly, cognoscere denotes an historical discernment, by means of the senses and of tradition. Sen. Ir. iii. 13. Quidni gauderet, quod iram suam multi intelligerent, nemo sentiret? Cic. N. D. iii. 24. Quare autem in his vis deorum insit, tum intelligam quum cognovero. (vi. 175.)
Conjugation conjugation 3
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cognōscō | cognōscēbam | cognōscam | cognōvī | cognōveram cognōram | cognōverō cognōrō |
| 2nd sg. | cognōscis | cognōscēbās | cognōscēs | cognōvistī cognōstī | cognōverās cognōrās | cognōveris cognōris |
| 3rd sg. | cognōscit | cognōscēbat | cognōscet | cognōvit cognōt | cognōverat cognōrat | cognōverit cognōrit |
| 1st pl. | cognōscimus | cognōscēbāmus | cognōscēmus | cognōvimus cognōmus | cognōverāmus cognōrāmus | cognōverimus cognōrimus |
| 2nd pl. | cognōscitis | cognōscēbātis | cognōscētis | cognōvistis cognōstis | cognōverātis cognōrātis | cognōveritis cognōritis |
| 3rd pl. | cognōscunt | cognōscēbant | cognōscent | cognōvērunt cognōrunt, cognōvēre | cognōverant cognōrant | cognōverint cognōrint |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cognōscam | cognōscerem | cognōverim cognōrim | cognōvissem cognōssem |
| 2nd sg. | cognōscās | cognōscerēs | cognōverīs cognōrīs | cognōvissēs cognōssēs |
| 3rd sg. | cognōscat | cognōsceret | cognōverit cognōrit | cognōvisset cognōsset |
| 1st pl. | cognōscāmus | cognōscerēmus | cognōverīmus cognōrīmus | cognōvissēmus cognōssēmus |
| 2nd pl. | cognōscātis | cognōscerētis | cognōverītis cognōrītis | cognōvissētis cognōssētis |
| 3rd pl. | cognōscant | cognōscerent | cognōverint cognōrint | cognōvissent cognōssent |
passive indicative
| form | present | imperfect | future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cognōscor | cognōscēbar | cognōscar |
| 2nd sg. | cognōsceris cognōscere | cognōscēbāris cognōscēbāre | cognōscēris cognōscēre |
| 3rd sg. | cognōscitur | cognōscēbātur | cognōscētur |
| 1st pl. | cognōscimur | cognōscēbāmur | cognōscēmur |
| 2nd pl. | cognōsciminī | cognōscēbāminī | cognōscēminī |
| 3rd pl. | cognōscuntur | cognōscēbantur | cognōscentur |
passive subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cognōscar | cognōscerer |
| 2nd sg. | cognōscāris cognōscāre | cognōscerēris cognōscerēre |
| 3rd sg. | cognōscātur | cognōscerētur |
| 1st pl. | cognōscāmur | cognōscerēmur |
| 2nd pl. | cognōscāminī | cognōscerēminī |
| 3rd pl. | cognōscantur | cognōscerentur |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | cognōsce | cognōscere |
| pres. 2nd pl. | cognōscite | cognōsciminī |
| fut. 2nd sg. | cognōscitō | cognōscitor |
| fut. 3rd sg. | cognōscitō | cognōscitor |
| fut. 2nd pl. | cognōscitōte | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | cognōscuntō | cognōscuntor |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | cognōscere | cognōscī |
| perfect infinitive | cognōvisse cognōsse | cognitum esse |
| future infinitive | cognitūrum esse | cognitum īrī |
| present participle | cognōscēns | — |
| perfect participle | — | cognitus cognita, cognitā, cognitae, cognitam, cognitārum, cognitās, cognite, cognitī, cognitīs, cognitō, cognitōrum, cognitōs |
| future participle | cognitūrus cognitūra, cognitūrā, cognitūrae, cognitūram, cognitūrārum, cognitūrās, cognitūre, cognitūrī, cognitūrīs, cognitūrō, cognitūrōrum, cognitūrōs, cognitūrum | cognōscendus cognōscundus |
gerundcognōscendī, cognōscendō, cognōscendumsupinecognitum, cognitū
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- usu cognitum habemus
- we know from experience.
- aliquid, causam cognoscere
- to hold an inquiry into a matter.
- Platonem legere et cognoscere
- to study Plato.
- multa cognita, percepta habere, multa didicisse
- to be well-informed, erudite.
- ratione, doctrina (opp. usu) aliquid cognitum habere
- to have a theoretical knowledge of a thing.
co-gnosco, gnōvi, gnĭtum, 3 (
I. tempp. perff. contr. cognosti, Ter. And. 3, 4, 7:
cognostis, id. Hec. prol. 8: cognoram, Cic. de Or. 1, 31, 143; Cat. 66, 26: cognoro, Cic. Att. 7, 20, 2; id. Fam. 2, 11, 2 fin.: cognorim, Cael. ap. Cic. Att. 10, 9, A, 1: cognoris, Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 35; Lucr. 6, 534: cognorit, Ter. Eun. 5, 4, 11: cognosses, Cic. Fl. 21, 51; Cat. 91, 3: cognossent, Nep. Lys. 4 fin.: cognosse, Lucr. 1, 331; Cat. 90, 3; Ov. M. 15, 4 al.; v. Neue, Formenl. 2, 532; 2, 535), v. a. nosco. I. To become thoroughly acquainted with (by the senses or mentally), to learn by inquiring, to examine, investigate, perceive, see, understand, learn; and, in tempp. perff. (cf. nosco) to know (very freq. in all periods and species of composition); constr. with acc., with acc. and inf., or a rel.-clause as object, and with ex, ab, the abl. alone, or per, with the source, etc., of the information, and with de.
A. By the senses:
credit enim sensus ignem cognoscere vere, Lucr. 1, 697; 6, 194; Enn. Ann. ap. Pers. 6, 9 (v. 16 Vahl.); cf.: doctas cognoscere Athenas, Prop. 1, 6, 13; so, regiones, Caes. B. G. 3, 7: domos atque villas, Sall. C. 12, 3: Elysios campos, etc., Tib. 3, 5, 23: totum amnem, Verg. A. 9, 245: sepulcra, Suet. Calig. 3: Aegyptum proficisci cognoscendae antiquitatis, Tac. A. 2, 59; cf. Nep. Att. 18, 1: infantem, Suet. Calig. 13: si quid dignum cognitu, worth seeing, Suet. Aug. 43 rem, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 275, 22: ab iis Caesar haec dicta cognovit, qui sermoni interfuerunt, Caes. B. C 3, 18 fin.: si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros.. Incipiam, Verg A. 2, 10: verum, quod institui dicere, miserias cognoscite sociorum, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 27, § 65: aliquid et litteris et nuntiis cognoscere, id. Fam. 1, 5, 1; 14, 5, 1; 14, 6 init.: iter ex perfugis, Sall. C. 57, 3; id. J. 112, 1 al: per exploratores cognovit, Caes. B. G. 1, 22; 5, 49; 2, 11; 7, 16: deditio per nuntios cognita, Sall. H. Fragm. 2, 22 Gerl.: de Marcelli salute, Cic Fam. 4, 4, 3: de Bruto, id. Att. 5, 21, 10; Sall J. 73, 1: his (quibus) rebus cognitis very freq. in the historians, Caes. B G. 1, 19, 1, 33; 2, 17; 4, 30 et saep., so in abl. absol. cognito, vivere Ptolemaeum, Liv. 33, 41, 5, so id. 37, 13, 5; 44, 28, 4 al.; v. Zumpt, Gram. § 647.—b. Like the Engl. to know, the Heb. (v. Gesen. Lex. s. h. v 3), and the Gr. γιγνώσκω (v. Lidd. and Scott, under the word, III.), euphem of sexual intercourse, Ov. H. 6, 133 aliquam adulterio, Just 5, 2, 5, 22, 1, 13: cognita, Cat 61, 147; Tac. H 4, 44.—
B. Mentally, to become acquainted with, learn, recognize, know:
nihil certum sciri, nihil plane cognosci et percipi possit, Cic. de Or 1, 51, 222, Lucr 2, 840; quod Di vitiaci fratris summum in populum Romanum studium cognoverat, Caes. B. G 1, 19; cf. Sall. C. 51, 16 quem tu, cum ephebum Temni cognosses, Cic. Fl. 21, 51 et saep.: id se a Gallicis armis atque insignibus cognovisse, knew by their weapons and insignia (diff. from ex and ab aliquo, to learn from any one, v ab), Caes. B G. 1, 22; Ov. P 2, 10, 1; Phaedr. 4, 21, 22.—With acc. and inf: nunc animam quoque ut in membris cognoscere possis esse, Lucr 3, 117; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 18, 25: cum paucitatem mililum ex castrorum exiguitate cognosceret, Caes B G. 4, 30: aetatem eorum ex dentibus, Varr R. R. 2, 8 fin.: sed Metello jam antea experimentis cognitum erat, genus Numidarum infidum... esse, Sall. J 46, 3 al.—With acc. and part.: aliter ac sperarat rempublicam se habentem, Nep. Ham. 2, 1.—With rel.- clause: tandem cognosti qui siem, Ter And. 3, 4, 7: id socordiāne an casu acciderit, parum cognovi, Sall. J. 79, 5 al.—II. To recognize that which is already known, acknowledge, identify (rare for agnosco): vereor, ne me quoque, cum domum ab Ilio cessim revertero, Praeter canem cognoscat nemo, Varr. ap. Non. p. 276, 9:
eum haec cognovit Myrrhina, Ter. Hec. 5, 3, 32: primum ostendimus Cethego signum: cognovit, Cic. Cat. 3, 5, 10; cf.: sigilla, ova, id. Ac. 2, 26, 86; Lucr. 2, 349: pecus exceptum est, quod intra dies XXX. domini cognovissent, to identify, Liv. 24, 16, 5; cf.: ut suum quisque per triduum cognitum abduceret, id. 3, 10, 1; Ov. F. 2, 185: video et cognosco signum, Plaut. Ps. 4, 2, 45: faciem suam, Ov. A. A. 3, 508: cognito regis corpore, Just. 2, 6, 20: mores, Ov. P. 3, 2, 105.—So esp., to identify a person before a tribunal: cum eum Syracusis amplius centum cives Romani cognoscerent, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 5, § 14; 2, 5, 28, § 72.—III. With the access. idea of individual exertion (cf. Gr. γιγνώσκω), to seek or strive to know something, to inquire into, to investigate, examine (so freq. only as a jurid. and milit. t. t.):
accipe, cognosce signum, Plaut. Ps. 4, 2, 31. A. Jurid. t. t., to examine a case in law, to investigate judicially (cf. cognitio):
Verres adesse jubebat, Verres cognoscebat, Verres judicabat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 10, § 26; cf. Quint. 4, 2, 21; Dig. 13, 4, 4 al.—So absol.: si judicas, cognosce, Sen. Med. 194.—With acc.: causam, Quint. 4, 1, 3; cf. id. 11, 1, 77 Spald. N. cr.: causas, Cic. Off. 2, 23, 82; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 48, § 118. COGNITIONES, Inscr. Orell. 3042.—With de: de agro Campano, Cic. Phil. 5, 19, 53: de Caesaris actis, id. Att. 16, 16 B, 8: de hereditate, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 7, § 19: hac de re, id. ib. 2, 1, 10, § 27; cf. Quint. 6, 3, 85; 7, 4, 35; 8, 3, 62 al.; Suet. Aug. 55; 93; id. Tib. 33; id. Calig. 38 al.: super aliquā re, Dig. 23, 2, 13: familiae herciscundae, i. e. ex actione familiae herciscundae, ib. 28, 5, 35; cf. ib. 27, 2, 2.—2. Transf., of critics and the criticising public:
cognoscere atque ignoscere, Quae veteres factitarunt, si faciunt novi, Ter. Eun. prol. 42; cf. id. Hec. prol. 3 and 8.—And of private persons in gen.: et cognoscendi et ignoscendi dabitur peccati locus, Ter. Heaut. 2, 1, 6.—B. Milit. t. t., to reconnoitre, to act the part of a scout:
qualis esset natura montis et qualis in circuitu ascensus, qui cognoscerent, misit, Caes. B. G. 1, 21 al— Also merely to inquire into, examine: numerum tuorum militum reliquiasque, Cic. Pis. 37, 91 (al. recognoscere).—Hence, * 1. cognoscens, entis, P. a., acquainted with:
cognoscens sui, Auct. Her. 4, 18, 25. —Subst. in jurid. lang., one who investigates judicially Inscr Orell 3151; 3185.—* Adv.: cognoscenter, with knowledge, distinctly: ut cognoscenter te videam, Tert. adv. Marc. 4, 22.—2. cognĭtus, a, um, P. a., known, acknowledged, approved. res penitus perspectae planeque cognitae, Cic. de Or. 1, 23, 108, cf. id. ib 1, 20, 92; id. Fam. 1, 7, 2. dierum ratio pervulgata et cognita, id. Mur 11, 25:
homo virtute cognitā et spectatā fide, id. Caecin. 36, 104.—With dat.: mihi Galba, Otho, Vitellius nec beneficio nec injuriā cogniti, Tac. H. 1, 1, so Plin. 12, 21, 45, § 99.—Comp.: cognitiora, Ov Tr. 4, 6, 28. cognitius, id. M. 14, 15.—Sup.: cognitissima, Cat. 4, 14.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
cōgnōscō gnōvī (often contr., cōgnōstī, cōgnōrō, cōgnōsse, etc.), gnitus, ere
com- + (g)nōscō, to become acquainted with, acquire knowledge of, ascertain, learn, perceive, understand ; perf., to know: regiones, Cs.: domūs atque villas, S.: amnem, V.: quam (antiquitatem) habuit cognitam, N.: casūs nostros, V.: miserias sociorum: quis sim, ex eo, S.: per exploratores montem teneri, Cs.: furto postridie cognito: quibus (scriptis) cognitis, after reading, N.: id se a Gallicis armis cognovisse, knew by their weapons, Cs.: fide cognitā, tested, N.: ab his, non longe oppidum abesse, Cs.: sed Metello experimentis cognitum erat, genus infidum esse, S.: quem plane perditum cognorat: vos fortīs, S.: aliter ac sperarat rem p. se habentem, N.: alqm magni animi: alqm paratissimo animo: tandem qui siem, T.: id socordiāne an casu acciderit, S.: cognito, vivere Ptolemaeum, L.—Poet.: casus multis hic cognitus, experienced by, Iu. — Supin. acc.: promissa eius cognitum ex praesentibus inisit, S.—Supin. abl.: pleraque digna cognitu. — To recognize, acknowledge, identify: in eā re utilitatem meam, T.: alii, ne cognoscerentur, ad necem rapiebantur: inter ceteras Veturiam, L.: ostendimus Cethego signum, cognovit: signa sua, S.: cognoscenti similis fuit, seemed to recognize him, O.: pecus exceptum est, quod cognovissent, identified, L.: neque currentem se cognoscit, is like himself, V.: eum Syracusis, to identify.—To seek to know, inquire into, investigate, examine: Verres cognoscebat, Verres iudicabat: accusationem causamque: numerum militum: de agro Campano: de hereditate.—To criticise, appreciate: ut neque spectari neque cognosci (fabula) potuerit, T.: et cognoscendi et ignoscendi peccati locus, T. — To reconnoitre, spy, act as scout: qualis esset natura montis, qui cognoscerent, misit, Cs.
Origins
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
- Proto-Italic*kom
- Proto-Italic*kom-
- Latincognōscō
Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₃sḱéti Proto-Italic *gnōskō Latin gnōscō Latin gnōscō Latin cognōscō From con- (prefix indicating completion) + gnōscō (“to know”).
Italo-Dalmatian
- Italiancognoscere
- Italianchignoscere
- Italianconoscere
- Italianconósciare
- Istriotcugnussi
- Venetancognosar
- Sassaresecunniscifrom Corsican cunnosce
- Dalmatianconniastro
- Neapolitancanoscere
- Neapolitancanósce
Gallo-Romance
- Catalanconèixer
- Frenchconnaîtrefrom Old French conoistre
- Occitanconóisserfrom Old Occitan conoiser
- Franco-Provençalcognetre
- Bourguignonquenoîtrefrom Old French conoistre
- Champenoisquenoîtrefrom Old French conoistre
- Champenoisconnoîtrefrom Old French conoistre
- Lorrainconoschefrom Old French conoistre
- Normanconnaîtrefrom Old French conoistre
- Normancounaîtefrom Old French conoistre
Ibero-Romance
- Portugueseconhecerfrom Old Galician-Portuguese connocer
- Spanishcoñocerfrom Old Spanish connoçer
- Spanishconocer
- Asturiancoñocer
- Falacoñocelfrom Old Galician-Portuguese connocer
- Galiciancoñecerfrom Old Galician-Portuguese connocer
- Old Navarro-Aragoneseconyoscer
- Aragoneseconoixer
- Aragoneseconoxer
- Aragoneseconeixer
Insular Romance
- Sardinianconnoschere
- Sardinianconnosciri
Borrowings
- Englishcognosce
- Scotscognosce
Balkano-Romance
- Romaniancunoaște
- Aromaniancunoscu
- Megleno-Romaniancunos
Rhaeto-Romance
- Friuliancognossi
- Friuliancognoši
- Romanshcugnuoscher
- Romanshencanoscher
Gallo-Italic
- Emiliancgnósser
- Lombardcognossfrom Old Lombard cognosser
- Lombardcognèssfrom Old Lombard cognosser
- Piedmontesecognòsse
- Romagnolcnóșar
- Ligurianconósce
- Piedmonteseconòsse
In English words that came into English from cognōscō
- recognizerecognosco
- quaintcognitus
- cognitivecognitīvus
- cognitioncognitiō
- reconnoiterrecognoscere
- incognitoincognitus
- precognitionpraecognitio
- cognizancecognōscō
- cognoscentecognōscere
- cognoscecognōscō
- cognoscentcognōscēns
- reconnoitrerecognoscere
- cognoscitivecognōscō
- recognitiverecognitus
- cogniscientcognōscentem
- cognoscencecognoscentia
- quaintrellecognitus
- precognoscepraecognoscere
- recognoscerecognoscere
- recognitorrecognitor